On the market modern technologies ASUS ZenWatch smart watch has appeared. Attractive design and economical price attracted the attention of all lovers of modern innovations. Taiwanese engineers were able to combine all the latest developments in a new product and provided worthy competition Apple Watch.
Despite the fact that today many users are skeptical about all new products in the world of smart technology, the new gadget was able to gain a positive reputation.
Smart watch ASUS ZenWatch - Reviews
Asus ZenWatch is the best that smartwatch manufacturers have been able to present to date. A high-tech functional device with an original design and a range of available features has surpassed all previous devices in this segment. This is a comfortable and stylish watch that will be appropriate in absolutely any life situation.
Watches from Asus support the system Android Wear, but despite this they have limited capabilities in contrast to the operating system of tablets or smartphones. They have a user-friendly interface, quite easy voice control, including support for the Russian language. This definitely gives the device a noticeable advantage over its competitors.
The watch works in offline mode, i.e. on their own, without pairing with a tablet or smartphone. However, more functional gadgets will help you unlock their full potential. In this case, using Google Now You can receive missed notifications or notifications about the latest events.
With the help of the watch, you can even take photos and videos; you can also use it as an alarm clock or a kind of remote control for controlling the player. The device can show your heart rate or calculate calorie consumption, and unlike other models with Android Wear, ZenWatch has a software package from Asus, which allows you to significantly expand the capabilities of the accessory.
ASUS ZenWatch design
The design and material of the watch have a more solid and attractive appearance than previous gadgets. The ZenWatch case consists of so-called “rose gold”, bordered with stainless steel on both sides and painted in bronze color. The body is curved with smooth outlines.
It's worth noting that the ZenWatch device feels much more durable than the metal Samsung. This design goes well with a brown leather strap. ZenWatch has enough high level strength and protection from moisture and dust. The watch is quite versatile, which makes it possible to safely wear it even on the beach and not take it off before entering the water.
The standard leather strap that comes with the ZenWatch is 22mm wide. The color of the material is flesh-colored, matching the skin tone of the hands. However, the bracelet is quite hard, which somewhat spoils the pleasure of wearing a smart accessory.
The length of the strap is adjustable, so when it comes to size, there will be no problems. Unfortunately, the clasp requires improvement and improvement. The watch case has no sharp corners and no protruding parts. It looks quite nice thanks to its smooth outlines.
Screen overview
The screen is located in the center of a small panel, where there are no decorations. The underside of the ZenWatch continues the minimalist trend. On the side there is a Micro-USB connector, four mounting screws, a tiny cutout for the microphone, and there is also a power button. Unlike other Android devices, the heart rate monitor is integrated into the front panel. It is worth mentioning charging. At the bottom on the inner surface there are contacts and when connected to charger The small LED lights up. The ZenWatch charger, unfortunately, is not wireless. However, in most cases the wire does not interfere.
The 1.63-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 320 x 320 performs its functions with an “excellent” rating. On top it is protected by curved scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 3. There is an anti-reflective coating, which allows you to see the image perfectly in any weather conditions. RAM is 512 MB, and the built-in card is expandable up to 4 GB.
The watch battery lasts quite a long time without recharging. Even after an active day of work and within half an hour of installing and uninstalling applications, the reading indicator will display about 50% charge. This is much best result than the Moto 360, which, even after a series of battery upgrades in a fairly active mode of using the device, completely drains the battery in a day.
If you turn off the screen backlight and notifications about new messages in in social networks and on email, then charging can last up to two days.
The watch works quite quickly, but some functions can only be performed using a smartphone or tablet paired with it. Maps from Google are also synchronized. This allows you to use a voice command to set a reminder, send a message, find out about the weather, flights or the location of the nearest cafes or shopping centers.
Asus has developed a small catalog of applications for ZenWatch. ZenWatch manager recommends at least three exclusive applications: ZenWatch Wellness, ZenWatch Camera and ZenWatch Music. ZenWatch Wellness can perform simple tasks such as color adjustment, battery indicator, and also alerts you when the connected phone is out of range.
The device has a built-in heart rate sensor that will measure your heart rate and can also record a graph of your steps, calories burned, and exercise intensity over time.
Less successful are two other applications - ZenWatch Camera and ZenWatch Music. Perhaps future updates will correct the situation. The heart rate sensor and pedometer require major improvements.
Bottom line
The main advantage of the ASUS ZenWatch is its stylish design. However, it was not enough to outweigh the shortcomings in the technology. Modern voice control high-quality assembly and good software have huge potential, but there are still quite serious complaints about the pedometer and heart rate sensor.
pros
- Affordable price;
- Beautiful design;
- Reliable charging;
- Reliable battery.
After the famous Pebble company disappeared from the smartwatch market this year and the launch of Android Wear 2.0 was postponed, lovers of these devices have a grim prospect that they will fade into oblivion. This fact is also confirmed by the fact that some companies, such as Huawei and Motorola, have not updated their smartwatch models for a long time and it seems that they do not even have such plans. Although Samsung is actively developing its wrist devices, adding more than enough new features, but it generates little enthusiasm among users.
Smartwatch manufacturers are trying various ways to attract the attention of consumers: expensive design, a lot of functions, a round dial, sensors, etc... But, alas, most of these devices are only suitable for receiving notifications on the wrist and they still do not have any “killer function” , which would revolutionize the market, and the long-awaited “Year of Smartwatches” would finally come.
However, these problems do not stop ASUS from developing new smartwatch models with innovative features. The company's latest development is ASUS ZenWatch 3 - this is the most ambitious watch on Android Wear (until Wear 2.0 devices appeared).
Before we begin this review, we should note that the ZenWatch 3 was originally planned to launch with Android Wear 2.0. However, the watch runs on Android Wear 1.5, which was caused by the delay in the release of Wear 2.0. Most likely, the ZenWatch 3 smartwatch will receive Wear 2.0 in the future, but don't expect a radical redesign of the original Android for wrist devices.
Housing, build and design
Modern smartwatches offer a fairly wide selection of designs - from natural electronic gadgets to classic chronometers. The ZenWatch 3 looks like a traditional watch, but it's not one your mom would love. In general, the design of ZenWatch 3 can be described in one word - steampunk (science fiction direction). For what reasons - we will write below, but even without them this is a fairly apt description. Let's look at all the elements of ZenWatch 3 and evaluate their impact on the appearance of the smartwatch.
Looking at the device from the front, we see the typical solar eclipse design - a gold stripe around the screen and a body made of sleek black 316L stainless steel.
The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 2.5 (not sapphire, as previously reported). The bezel around it is quite thick, but the gold ring and smooth transitions make the watch look more sophisticated. The bottom and top of the case bends into too large strap holders. They are also smooth and black, but are not as highly polished compared to the bezel. However, unlike smartwatches from other companies, ASUS managed to position the holders at the ideal angle - they do not squeeze the wrist or hang over it.
On the side of the ZenWatch 3 you will find three buttons, typical of traditional timepieces. The functions of the buttons can be customized, but we will discuss this in the section on software hours.
On the back there is a speaker and a port for fast charging(more details below), but there is no heart rate sensor.
We should also note that the ZenWatch 3 is quite thin at just 9.95mm, so it looks much more compact than many of its competitors.
The 18mm wide strap is made of dark brown leather, which appears black in most cases. It is very comfortable, but unfortunately it has a non-standard type of fastening, so replacing the strap can cause problems.
Technical specifications
Let's move on to the internal parameters. The watch is protected from dust and water according to the IP67 standard. The round screen has a large diameter of 1.39 inches, an AMOLED matrix, very a high resolution 400*400 dots (287 dpi density) and ambient light sensor. The image is quite juicy and bright, although the light sensor does not work as quickly and accurately as we would like, so the brightness sometimes has to be adjusted manually.
And finally, ZenWatch 3 is one of the first devices equipped with the latest Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip, which promises 25% more efficient power consumption. At the same time, this watch has 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of memory for user files. Unfortunately, ZenWatch 3 lacks GPS, NFC and GSM modules, but it does have WiFi and Bluetooth LE 4.2. Let us remind you that ASUS ZenWatch 3 does not have a heart rate sensor, despite the fact that the company is developing its own fitness application ZenFit.
Specifications
Iron
- Manufacturer: ASUS
- Model: ZenWatch 3
- Processor: Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100
- Memory: 512 MB RAM, 4 GB ROM, no memory card support.
- Communications: there is only WiFi, Bluetooth, but no radio, USB, GPS.
- Camera: none.
Functions
- Accelerometer.
- SMS.
- Email.
- Hypercharge (60% in 15 minutes).
- Player.
- Voice control.
Other parameters
- Cellular connection: not supported, no GSM module.
- Battery: 341 mAh, lithium-ion, non-replaceable, autonomy up to 48 hours (mixed load).
- Platform: Android Wear OS 1.5 (can be upgraded to 2.0).
- Price, $: 229.
Physical parameters
- Housing, mm: 45 x 45 x 9.95-10.75
- Strap, mm: 18
- Weight, g: 192
- Material: stainless steel steel.
- Protection: IP67.
Screen
- Type: multi-touch.
- Gorilla Glass 2.5.
- Martitsa AMOLED.
- Number of flowers, million: 16.
- Screen diagonal, inches: 1.39.
- Resolution, pixels: 400x400.
Programs, interface, user experience
ZenWatch 3, more than any other smartwatch, is packed with different functions. This is indicated by a hidden light sensor and 3 customizable buttons.
The core functions of the ZenWatch 3 work absolutely fine. Performance is very fast. The device screen has 2 advantages. Firstly, it is a completely round AMOLED matrix with a light sensor. And secondly, these are the built-in ASUS watch faces, which demonstrate all the beauty of the display.
On the street, the image on the screen is quite clearly visible, but not on sunny days.
A full battery charge is enough to keep the smartwatch powered for a couple of weeks (in standby mode), but even if the screen is constantly on, this does not significantly reduce battery life. Unfortunately, the design of the dial itself has not been updated, i.e. it still lacks a second hand, ticking dots, or any other moving elements. But there are more than 50 watch face styles available, mostly classic (brown, black, gray, gold) that match the physical aesthetics of ZenWatch 3. Of course, you can also download your favorite watch face from Google Play, if suddenly none of the built-in options are suitable.
Now let's discuss the buttons on the ZenWatch 3. They can be configured to launch specific applications (after installing ZenWatch Manager). By default, the top button launches ZenFit (ASUS's fitness app), while the bottom button enables ECO mode (details below). For example, you can reconfigure a button to launch a social network application to quickly check messages, or attach it to a navigator, calendar, etc. Other users can use buttons to set up quick access to more important applications for them - a stopwatch, calculator or translator. The smartwatch has a decent amount of RAM (512 MB), so switching between running applications happens quickly and smoothly.
To unlock the full potential of the ZenWatch 3 smartwatch, you need to download the ZenWatch Manager application from Google Play. Among key functions It is worth noting watch search (using vibration and sound), protection against losing your phone, calls through the watch, SOS signal, camera control, etc.
We didn't try out all the features of the ZenWatch manager app, but we really liked the watch face settings and control of information widgets.
The ZenWatch 3's speaker was surprisingly loud during various alarms and music playback, although we didn't test it during phone calls.
Autonomy, battery
As for autonomy, during 24 hours of active use of ZenWatch 3 we did not experience any serious problems. Moreover, the selected dials did not have pure black colors to save battery power thanks to the AMOLED display. If you turn off the smartwatch screen at night, it will almost certainly withstand even 2 days of operation. But this is not necessary, because... ZenWatch 3 has a really very fast charging function that allows you to reach 60% charge in 15 minutes. Our tests confirmed this. It will take about 40 minutes to charge to 100%. But we think that a 15-minute charge in the morning will be enough to stretch the clock until the evening.
We did not notice any limitations in the battery life of the ZenWatch 3 smartwatch, however, ASUS offers an additional external battery that extends the device's performance by 40%. In addition, there is also an “ECO” energy saving mode, which can extend the battery life of smartwatches by 2 times due to some limitations in functionality. A useful thing in extreme cases, although the high charging speed is still more pleasing.
Video
Serious competitor
On this moment ASUS ZenWatch 3 smartwatch is the most advanced device on Android based Wear. ASUS offers stylish watches with a huge number of functions. ZenWatch 3 is a light, thin and comfortable smartwatch. They are superior to the previous generation thanks to the Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip. The charging mechanism is also convenient and insanely fast. True, I would like the cable to be made longer.
Disadvantages of ZenWatch
This has already been mentioned above, but let us remind you once again that the disadvantages of the device are the absence of some key sensors, for example GPS, NFC, heart rate sensor, GSM radio module.
Price
The price tag for the ZenWatch 3 smartwatch is very reasonable - only $229. This is much lower than similar devices.
Despite some disadvantages, ASUS's watches turned out to be quite good. Yes, they do not have Wi-Fi and the operating time of the device leaves much to be desired, but the first experience of the Taiwanese in this niche can be called successful. The emphasis in the watch is not on technology, but on design and comfort, which is not entirely usual. However, for a gadget that you wear on your hand every day, ease of use is perhaps more important, and not how many sensors it has. The watch copes with the main tasks, even measures the pulse, but you can do without the rest. Surprisingly, the price of this watch is lower than that of its competitors, although the ASUS ZenWatch is presented as a luxury gadget. You can buy them in the US for $199, which is $50 cheaper than the same Moto 360 or Sony SmartWatch 3, although they have a little more features. What can we say about the Apple Watch, the starting price of which is $349. In Russia, the new product will cost 17 thousand rubles, unfortunately, the price is no longer very attractive. The same SmartWatch 3 with a steel strap is already sold for 15 thousand, and Moto 360 is easy to find for 12-13 thousand rubles. When choosing, price can be the main factor, because the gadgets do not differ much in function. Sales of ZenWatch will begin in a week, on June 1, with a noticeable delay, because almost six months have passed since the international start of sales. In addition, this year many companies, including ASUS, plan to announce new models of Android Wear devices. This means that ZenWatch will simply become obsolete pretty soon, but prices will be adjusted downward, which can attract buyers.
First detailed review in Russia
In January 2015, we told you about the Asus ZenWatch smartwatch. We really liked this model - at that time it looked almost the best option among the smartwatches on the market. However, since then the situation has changed significantly: the Apple Watch appeared, which set new design standards in this area. Asus' competitors, Samsung and LG, have also strengthened their positions by releasing round watches. The Taiwanese company had to quickly respond to the expansion of competitors from the USA and South Korea, and now, less than a year has passed, the second version of Asus watches, ZenWatch 2, entered the market.
Apple's example clearly turned out to be contagious: now every manufacturer considers it their duty to present two size options and the widest possible selection of straps. So Asus watches were released with screens of 1.45 and 1.63 inches, and the strap could be leather, metal or silicone.
Let us remember that the first model was available only in a version with a 1.63-inch screen, and the strap was leather. It still remains in the Asus range, the model number is WI500Q, while the new models received the numbers WI501Q and WI502Q (1.63 inches and 1.45 inches, respectively).
Let's take a look at the specifications of the model we tested.
Specifications Asus ZenWatch WI501Q
- SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, 4 cores @1.2 GHz
- Touchscreen 1.63″ AMOLED, 320×320 (278 ppi) with curved Gorilla Glass 3
- Random access memory (RAM) 512 MB, inner memory 4 GB
- Bluetooth 4.1 LE, Wi-Fi
- Microphone
- Gyroscope, accelerometer
- Lithium polymer battery 1.4 Wh
- operating room Android system Wear
- Compatible with devices running Android 4.3 and later
- Compliant with IP67 protection standard
- Removable genuine leather strap (width 22 mm at loops)
- Dimensions 50×41×11 mm
- Weight (with strap) 62 g
Now let's compare the key characteristics of ZenWatch 2 with the specifications of its predecessor, as well as with the watch Samsung Gear S2 and Apple Watch are perhaps the most serious competitors.
| Asus ZenWatch 2 | Asus ZenWatch | Samsung Gear S2 | Apple Watch | |
| Screen | touch, color, AMOLED, 1.63″, 320×320 (278 ppi) / 1.45″, 280×280 (273 ppi) | touch, color, AMOLED, 1.63″, 320×320 (278 ppi) | round, flat Super AMOLED, 1.2″, 360×360 (302 ppi) | rectangular, flat, AMOLED, 1.5″, 272×340 (290 ppi) / 1.65″, 312×390 (304 ppi) |
| Protection | yes (IP67) | yes (IP55) | yes (IP68) | No |
| Strap | removable, silicone / leather / metal | removable, leather | removable, leather/silicone | removable, leather / silicone / metal |
| SoC (CPU) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, 4 cores @1.2 GHz | 2 cores @1 GHz | Apple S1, 1 core @520 MHz | |
| Connection | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth | 3G (only in the Sport version, not in Russia), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Camera | No | No | No | No |
| Microphone, speaker | microphone only | microphone only | microphone only | There is |
| Compatibility | devices running Android 4.3 and higher | Samsung devices on Android 4.3 and later | devices running iOS 8.3 and later | |
| operating system | Android Wear | Android Wear | Tizen | watchOS |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | — | — | 250 | not reported |
| Dimensions* (mm) | 49.6 × 40.7 × 10.9 | 51 × 39.9 × 9.4 | 40×44×11.4 / 42×50×11.4 | 39×33×10.5 / 42×36×10.5 |
| Weight (g) | 62 (with silicone strap) | 71 (with strap) | 62 (Sport version) | 78 (42 mm version with silicone strap) |
*according to manufacturer information
So, compared to the first generation ZenWatch, the new product has the ability to communicate via Wi-Fi, as well as more high degree protection against moisture (IP67), that is, with the new ZenWatch you can safely take a shower. The dimensions have changed slightly (if we compare the WI500Q and WI501Q models), but still the body is now different. Find out more in our review!
Equipment
The watch comes in a rectangular blue and black box that looks quite nice.
Opening the box, we see the watch itself, which is placed in a cardboard slot, where it is quite well fixed. This gives you confidence that they will not be damaged during transportation, even if the box falls.
Under the cardboard holder of the watch you can find several mini-booklets (since we ordered the watch from the USA, they are all in English), a 5V 1.2A charger and Micro-USB cable with a magnetic connector for connecting to a watch.
Let us remind you that the previous version of ZenWatch used a cradle, which had to be put on the watch case and a cable connected to it. The new solution, on the one hand, is more convenient and simpler (and certainly more compact), but on the other hand, the connector is not magnetized very tightly, and in order for it not to come unfastened from the watch, you need to find the optimal position.
Note that all of the above-mentioned competitors use inductive charging (wireless), which is more convenient and interesting from a technological point of view. However, it is obvious that such charging is more expensive and takes up more space.
Design
The first impression when you see the watch is that it is very large. Perhaps it’s a matter of slightly increased thickness, perhaps it’s some other nuances that affect perception. But, rather, it is influenced by comparison with others smart watch- for example, with a 42 mm Apple version Watch (which, with a larger screen area, has a much more compact body). But, one way or another, Asus ZenWatch 2 WI501Q is really large by today's standards. They look very strange on a woman's hand.
The manufacturer has retained some important features of the previous version - slightly curved glass, steel hinges of standard width, body shape (something between an oval and a rectangle with rounded corners). However, some characteristic elements have disappeared (a recess on the edges, painted in a different color, a metal back), but others have appeared: first of all, the button on the right side.
As we remember, the Apple Watch has a similar element called the Digital Crown and performs not only the function Home buttons, but also allows you to scale or scroll the picture (since the button can be rotated around its axis). The Asus ZenWatch 2 has a more modest button functionality: a short press on it takes us to the main screen (watch face), and a long press takes us to the main menu. You can't twist it in any way. However, this is a better option than the first ZenWatch - there the Home button was on the inner surface of the case and getting to it when the watch was on was completely inconvenient.
The button has a rounded cap and a golden color, it is pressed quite elastically, the “frame” of the button is made of steel and is motionless. The frame of the case is also steel. On the left side we see the microphone hole. There is no speaker on the watch.
The strap consists of two halves, which are attached to steel loops protruding from the bottom and top of the case. The loop width of the strap is standard: 22 mm (for the version with a 1.45-inch screen it is smaller - 20 mm). As we already said, there are many options for straps on sale, we had the cheapest one - silicone. It has a corrugated, rough surface that is not very pleasant to the touch. The color of the strap we had was black and brown. Also a very strange decision. This strap will fit perfectly with a classic black or blue suit.
The strap halves are attached to the watch case very simply and there should be no problems with replacing them - just remove the metal lever.
The last thing worth noting when talking about the design is the fairly wide frames around the screen. The manufacturer is trying to brighten this up, firstly, with an original solution with curved glass, and secondly, with a specific pattern - thin lines diverging from the screen to the edges of the case. This element is also borrowed from the first generation Asus ZenWatch. But the problem is that now they are practically invisible - only if you look very closely, bringing the device very close to your eyes.
Overall, the design of the watch left us with a mixed impression. It seems that there are good solutions (for example, the “Home” button is located better), and continuity with the previous generation has been preserved, but to say that the watch makes you want to own it or admire it - no, this is not the case. The model is not for everyone.
Screen
The watch is equipped with a square color touch screen made using AMOLED technology. A resolution of 320x320 with a diagonal of 1.63" already seems insufficient (the pixel density is 278 ppi, while competitors have more than 300 ppi), but if you don’t look closely, the pixels are unlikely to be noticeable.
The editor of the “Projectors and TV” section, Alexey Kudryavtsev, conducted a detailed test of the screen. His expertise is below.
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, noticeably better than that of Google Nexus 7 (2013)), so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than in the case of regular glass. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are slightly worse than those of Google screen Nexus 7 2013. For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the switched off screens:
The screen of the Asus ZenWatch 2 is slightly lighter (brightness according to photographs is 117 versus 109 for the Nexus 7). Note that there is a not very pronounced bluish halo from bright objects reflected in the screen, and some convexity of the outer surface of the screen leads to the fact that something is almost always reflected in it. There is no double reflection, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. When displaying a white field in full screen maximum value(5 on the scale) brightness was about 305 cd/m², the minimum (1 on the scale) was 51 cd/m². Given the good anti-glare properties, on a sunny day outdoors, screen readability should remain at a more or less acceptable level. There is no automatic brightness adjustment, which, given the high minimum brightness, is not very good, especially for a watch. In the graphs of brightness (vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis), only slight modulation can be seen, so there is no visible screen flicker:
This screen uses an AMOLED matrix - active matrix organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B) in equal numbers, as confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.
In each pair, the subpixels are controlled independently, which is confirmed by another fragment in which some of the red subpixels are turned off:
The spectra are typical for OLED - the primary color areas are well separated and appear as relatively narrow peaks:
Accordingly, the coverage is noticeably wider than sRGB, and there are no attempts to reduce it:
Note that on screens with a wide color gamut, without appropriate correction, the colors of regular images optimized for devices with sRGB screens look unnaturally saturated:
Somehow I don’t want to eat such tomatoes, and the girl’s complexion inspires fears about her health. Apparently, only Apple cares about the correct color gamut with OLED matrices. The color temperature of the white and gray fields is approximately 6600 K, and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is 5 and 2 units, respectively. Color balance is acceptable. Black is just black from any angle. It's so black that the contrast setting is in this case simply not applicable. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is excellent. The screen has excellent viewing angles with a much smaller drop in brightness when looking at the screen at an angle compared to LCD screens. In general, the quality of the screen can be considered quite high.
Asus software and proprietary applications
Like other Android Wear devices, the Asus ZenWatch is compatible with smartphones and tablets running Android 4.3 or later. In addition, the Android Wear application for iOS has recently appeared. On the one hand, this is very cool: now, of all operating systems for watches, Android Wear provides the widest compatibility. But on the other hand, when working with an iPhone, you will not be able to install third party applications for watches, that is, you will be deprived of one of the main advantages of Android Wear. However, a set of additional watch faces will still be available to you (they are located in the application itself, and not in Google Play Store, where there is no entry from the iPhone). Below are screenshots of the iPhone- Android versions Wear.
In the case of Asus ZenWatch 2, these advantages are especially significant, because the manufacturer has prepared a number of proprietary applications for the watch. Of course, there are also watch faces made specifically for the ZenWatch. We will talk about this in detail in this section, leaving out the Android description Wear in general (we have already talked in detail about this operating system and its capabilities many times, so we refer you to previous articles). We emphasize that on all existing watches running Android Wear operating system looks and works the same - both in terms of performance, and in terms of functionality, and in terms of appearance, because Google prohibits customizing the OS interface in any way.
So, at the moment, Asus offers five proprietary applications for ZenWatch (they are compatible with both generations of smartwatches). These are ZenWatch Manager, ZenWatch Remote Camera, ZenWatch FaceDesigner, ZenWatch Music and ZenWatch Wellness.
ZenWatch Manager is interesting primarily due to the ability to flexibly customize the appearance of watch faces. For example, you can change the color of individual elements or the set of widgets (however, the range of options is always very limited). In addition, ZenWatch Manager provides a number of additional settings, not possible through the Android Wear app.
The new ZenWatch FaceDesigner app offers even more interesting options for working with watch faces. Here you can create a new watch face almost from scratch, select the background, the type of hands/numbers, and also set the number, color and arrangement of elements. You can even make a custom inscription.
Third interesting application— ZenWatch Music. It allows you to transfer music files from your smartphone to the watch’s memory, from where you can play them without using a smartphone, simply by connecting a Bluetooth headset to the watch.
We told you about other applications in our review of the first generation ZenWatch. They haven't changed much since then. Wellness is a fitness app, Remote Camera is an app for controlling your smartphone camera from your watch.
Dials
As with the first version of the watch, Asus has made sure that many dial options are available to the user. Moreover, all of them can be displayed both in color (and even with animation, if it is intended for a specific dial), and in a static black and white version - to save energy. The screenshots below show the same dial in normal (left) and economy (right) modes.
This option is enabled when the watch is set to always on. Here are the most interesting and beautiful dials that come pre-installed on watches.
Overall, a decent set. And although it cannot be said that these options cause delight, there is still plenty to choose from.
Autonomous operation
We were very pleased with the battery life of the Asus ZenWatch 2 WI501Q. In the mode with the screen always on (during the period when you do not touch it or do not look at the time, a static picture is displayed there, reminiscent in nature of the image on E-Ink screens), the watch worked for a day and a half (at the same time, notifications were received on the watch and we used in real life).
If you set the screen to turn off, then the watch will work from one charge to two days at everyday use. Of course, if you use Google Now, navigation, or some third-party applications very often, this period may be reduced. But in general, this is still a noticeable step forward compared to the more common day for smartwatches. However, we note that in the same mode of use, the 42 mm Apple Watch after the latest watchOS update (2.0.1) works for us on average for the same two days (and sometimes even more).
conclusions
The watch turned out to be imperfect: compared to its competitors, it doesn’t look as great as the first ZenWatch compared to other models introduced on the market at the beginning of 2015. The design leaves mixed impressions, the charger too, there are complaints about the screen; in terms of functionality, the differences from the previous model are minimal (provided it is updated to the latest version of Android Wear, of course). However, all arguments against the Asus ZenWatch 2 fall away when we look at the price. The model we tested costs $129 in the official Asus online store. For comparison, the cheapest version of the 42mm Apple Watch Sport is priced at $399. And prices for the Apple Watch modification with a steel case start at $599.
Not only the Apple Watch, but also models from other smartwatch manufacturers are more expensive than the Asus ZenWatch: for example, prices for the second generation Moto 360 start at $299 (this is for the 42 mm version, and for the 46 mm they ask for all $349!), Samsung Gear The S2 with silicone strap will cost $299. Overall, Asus' offering is unique and incredibly attractive. At the same time, you can equip your watch with a metal or leather strap. Of course, it will cost more, but still incomparably less than even the cheapest versions of competitors. For example, Asus ZenWatch 2 with a 1.45" screen and a silver metal bracelet (Milanese weave) can be purchased for $199 (not yet on sale). And how much does an Apple Watch cost with a steel case, a 38 mm screen and a Milanese bracelet (for convenience, will we also take the price in the USA)? Nothing at all - $649 :)
In general, you already understand that Asus has taken a course towards total dumping in the new line of watches. And coupled with a decent selection of straps and case options (albeit much more modest than those offered by Apple and Motorola), as well as decent battery life and a good set of proprietary software, this turns out to be a very attractive option for anyone who just wants a smartwatch moderately pleasant in appearance, and not an innovative piece of jewelry (many times more expensive!). From this point of view, the model turned out to be not just successful, but generally without alternative at the moment.
Another thing is that in the case of watches, people, as a rule, proceed not from technical characteristics, but from considerations of appearance and compliance with their style, and for a successful hit they are willing to pay not only several times, but tens of times more. Asus followed the same path as with smartphones. Let's see how her strategy works for smartwatches!
Finally, we offer you a video review of Asus ZenWatch 2, in which you will see visual comparison this model with steel Apple Watch 42 mm.
The woman had no troubles, but she bought piglets!
(Folk wisdom)
We have the next ones on test Asus Zenwatch smartwatch. The device turned out to be extremely ambiguous. On the one hand, the device looks stylish and may be of interest not only to technologists, but also to ordinary consumers; on the other hand, the gadget runs on an OS from Google Android Wear and it's pain. We’ll talk about the nuances of operation and the need for purchase in this review.
Equipment
As you know, people are greeted by their clothes. So we will not deviate from this rule and first look at the packaging. The latter is a small box made of thick cardboard with high-quality printing. It is immediately clear that we are dealing with a serious matter. At least that's what it may seem like when you first meet.
Unpacking is one thing, but putting the box back together is not an easy task.
Inside, the watch itself is neatly laid out on a cardboard backing. And under them, each in its own compartments, there are accessories: power cable, charger and accompanying documentation. Against the backdrop of euphoria obtained as a result of unpacking, we move on to inspecting the device.
Design
I’ll say right away that from a distance, without understanding the details, the Asus Zenwatch looks very cool and very solid.
Moreover, the watch looks even more interesting than its main competitor, the Apple Watch, which looks more like a hand-held compass or Tamogotchi. However, delving deeper into the nuances of appearance, you realize that when using an apple product, you become more and more imbued with convenience, some thoughtful little details, funny goodies and the quality of materials. With Zenwatch it's exactly the opposite.
The first is the leather strap. The understanding immediately comes that there is no smell of the nobility of natural leather here (maybe the smell has already dissipated).
Varnished, tight, more like plastic, with no smell, it does not give the impression of the high cost or status of the product.
The included strap looks more like a cheap leatherette watch for 300-500 rubles from an underground passage. Fortunately, it is very easy to replace it yourself with any other bracelet.
I only liked the clasp. The mechanism is very easy to adjust to any wrist and even easier to snap onto your hand or unfasten. Everything here is simple, graceful and even, I must say, elegant.
Next is the glass that covers the front panel. It is curved at the edges, that is, it can conditionally fit into the category of 2.5D glass. Due to this shape, it plays well in the light and, coupled with the sloping design of the watch, looks great.
The downside is that all this is very impractical. The glare on the curved glass plays catch-up with each other, shimmering in different colors at different angles, thereby interfering with the perception of information on the screen. As a result, it seems that it would be better if the glass were entirely flat. A display with a weak reserve of brightness adds fuel to the fire. On the street, especially in bright sunlight, it fades and it is very difficult to make out anything on the screen.
There is a very wide bezel around the display. Ultimately, the screen looks somewhat toy-like against the backdrop of the large front surface area. Having once focused attention on this point, style and design are already perceived differently and, unfortunately, not for the best.
There are special sensors hidden on the sides of the screen that measure heart rate. You must carefully place your index and middle fingers on these places to correctly measure your heartbeat. In addition, the watch itself must be worn on the hand for correct measurement. In general, checking your pulse is quick and painless, but it is important to remember that your fingers must be placed on the front surface of the gadget exactly at the same time, otherwise the watch will return you to the main screen and you will have to start everything over again. “Just think! What nonsense! “We can run the measurement again,” you say. However, when this happens two or three times in a row, it’s no longer a joke.
On the back of the gadget there is a contact area for connecting it to the charger and a button to turn on the device with an extremely indistinguishable response and generally dubious functionality. Still, you can turn off or restart the watch from the settings menu.
There are no complaints about the assembly of the device. All parts fit together very well.
In addition, high-quality case materials are used here - stainless, polished steel. A bronze-gold metal gasket is used on the sides. Again, this all looks very good. We have already discussed the issue of practicality.
Display
The watch has an AMOLED screen with a diagonal of 1.63 inches and a resolution of 320 x 320 pixels. 278 pixels per square inch is a pixel density, which overall seems like a good number. However, individual pixels are clearly visible, since the display itself is tiny and you have to peer at the interface from a closer distance (20-30 cm).
The display has mainly two problems. The first is the lack of brightness. Most likely, this parameter is artificially low so that the battery charge is not consumed so quickly. In the sun, the screen goes blind and it is very difficult to make out anything on it, but I have already touched on this issue above.
The second negative point is the use of active matrix organic light-emitting diodes (AMOLED). Hence the increased contrast and a pronounced greenish glow in the picture, which appears even with the slightest deviation from the right viewing angle.
When the display is in sleep mode, only the outline of the currently set chronometer is illuminated. In other words, the screen is always on, but you can configure this item in the menu.
It’s not easy to call a touch surface sensitive.
Despite the fact that the screen can accommodate, at best, two menu items, the system does not always correctly recognize keystrokes. It seems like I clicked on the “Ok” icon, but it turned out that I swiped to the right and the interface returned to the chronometer. I swiped to the right to remove the notification, and the device recognized the touch as if I had moved down to the next notification. All these moments do not bring pleasure from using the gadget.
The sad thing is that the capacitive display of the device reacts to any touch on it. For example, a user wanted to scratch his shoulder blade, reached behind his back with his hand, and accidentally pressed the dial with his cheek. Of course, the watch will think that the owner wants to change the design of the chronometer and will go into setting mode. So, why not implement the function of recognizing various touches and, as a result, ignoring false touches in the next generation of wearable electronics. Still, a single tap with a finger and a long press of the screen over the entire area with the cheek are two different gestures.
Specifications Asus Zenwatch WI500Q
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.2 GHz processor
- RAM 512 MB
- Built-in memory 4 GB eMMC Flash
- AMOLED display 1.63" with a resolution of 320 x 320 pixels (278 ppi)
- Protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3
- sensors: accelerometer, heart rate sensor
- Android Wear OS 5.1.1
- battery (polymer) 1.4 W*h
- built-in microphone
- IP55 water and dust protection
- Bluetooth 4.0
- Dimensions: 39.9 x 51 x 9.4 mm
- weight: 50 g (case) + 25 g (22 mm strap)
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the watch does not have Wi-Fi, NFC or a built-in GPS receiver. Many wearable devices from 2014 - 2015 have support for all of these wireless interfaces, however, Asus considered them unnecessary, at least in the first generation of their product. A strange approach, especially considering the fact that in the last Android update Wear Google allowed the watch to receive all the necessary notifications independently from the smartphone via Wi-Fi network. The thing is convenient, but not for Zenwatch.
Software stuffing
With all the controversial aspects of the appearance of the Asus Zenwatch, the presence Android Wear 5.1.1 as a software component of the watch, this is perhaps the biggest drawback of the watch that can be identified.
Firstly, this OS negatively affects the battery life of the gadget, but we will return to this issue later.
Secondly, it is ease of use and interface logic, which is traditionally far from ideal.
As before, it is impossible to go back a step, or, more precisely, this is not possible in all places in the system. Swiping to the right takes the user to the watch face and he has to go through the menu again to find the desired item. Fortunately, now, when diving deep into the device parameters, you can go back one step, and not main screen, as it was before. Progress that has not yet covered all areas of the interface.
Using the watch, and especially setting it up for the average user, is further complicated by the fact that for some reason Asus decided to develop additional applications for working with the watch with its own vision of many of the device’s functions. Warning - sarcasm! Of course, all users need additional programs that duplicate existing software from Google. As a result, the consumer becomes completely confused about what and where is configured in his new gadget. Not only does a person have to remember which parameter item is on the watch and which one should be configured in Android app Wear on a smartphone, so in the case of Zenwatch, something can also be changed in proprietary software from Asus. Head is spinning!
A striking example of such a counterintuitive approach is customizing the device’s watch face. Now there are very, very many of them and everyone can find something they more or less like. So, the dial can be changed in the following ways:
- Press your finger on the main screen of your device. A list of chronometers available for installation will immediately appear.
- An item has appeared in the settings, from where you can again go to the list of loaded shells.
- In the application on Android smartphone Wear, you can change watch face settings in real time and immediately see how they look on your wearable assistant.
- That's not all. Absolutely the same functionality from the previous paragraph is available in a proprietary utility from Asus called ZenWatch Manager.
Well, we can only wait for Google or our Taiwanese manufacturer to add support for changing watch faces via the web client in the browser desktop computer. Somehow there’s nowhere to turn around, you know!
The third problem with the device lies in the speed of its operation. Many menu items and scrolling through lists are seriously slow.
The system does not respond to touches at lightning speed. In order to use the watch in any way other than viewing time and steps, you need to have a lot of patience. It happens that the system seems to be loading and the speed of the animation is not satisfactory, but often, especially after a long period of rest, the clock still seriously slows down.
We have already said that the built-in display does not have sufficient brightness reserve. However, in the parameters you cannot set the time during which the backlight will not go out.
The default is 5 seconds and that's it. If you don’t have time to watch something, be so kind as to tap on the screen again, which, by the way, can only wake up with 3-4 touches. By the way, the physical button, which is located on the back of the watch, always wakes up the display the first time, but when the gadget is worn, it is very difficult to reach.
The negative aspects don't end there. Lost connections with a smartphone that is located at a distance of 50 centimeters is a separate topic for conversation.
Application notifications, navigation and other behavior of the watch can be customized so that all this does not distract you from important matters too often. However, it is impossible to turn off the vigorous vibration of both the watch and the smartphone when contact is lost.
Personally, I consider driving a car an activity in which unnecessary stimuli are at least unnecessary. However, when in thirty minutes the watch notifies you three times by vibration that “Phone is turned off,” you will immediately want to say goodbye to the accessory.
I don't know why the phone turns off. This could be software glitches or serious digital interference from surrounding Wi-Fi or Bluetooth networks. However, the consumer should not be concerned about such nuances. Either the accessory must work as expected, or, at worst, there must be the possibility of detailed configuration of such personal moments that interfere in your life in a completely unceremonious way.
Battery life
And here there is nothing to please you, friends. Zenwatch works under average load (1-2 notifications every half hour, viewing them, about 10 incoming calls per day) for a little over a day. If the watch is charged 100% and placed on a shelf, it will work for two days. This is far from a record, but rather the harsh realities of our days.
The installed, relatively powerful hardware, software in the form of Android Wear and constant disconnections with the phone have a negative impact on the battery life of the accessory.
Bottom line
Currently official Asus Zenwatch price is 16,990 rubles. In some stores you can find it cheaper - 12,499 rubles.
Of course, when using Zenwatch, there are those rare moments when you feel pleasure from purchasing another new digital product. This is usually accompanied by a modest joy from the fact that we have finally found a nice-looking skin for the main screen. And besides, it’s incredible to receive notifications and not have to reach into your bag or pocket for your smartphone every time to find out about the next one. advantageous offer air carrier, still damn convenient.
Otherwise, this is a toy, and most of the time it works extremely poorly. Constant connection interruptions, slowdowns in the menu, incorrect recognition of keystrokes, bad screen- all this will “delight” you most of the time. It’s sad that the user receives all these “pleasures” by paying quite a considerable amount of money.
Before purchasing an Asus Zenwatch, or indeed any smart watch on Android Wear, you should think a thousand times about the feasibility of such a purchase. You risk losing not only money, but also a lot of nerves while using the device, and this is much more valuable for any modern person than another electronic gadget that needs to be charged every day.
Already on sale Price: from 12,499 rubles